The Importance of Brakes and Tires

Squeeeeeeel. When you hear it next to you from another car, it's annoying. When you hear it from your own car, it's frightening.

The trick is to determine when it is just a natural mechanical sound of brakes doing their job, or when is it a sign of serious mechanical failure? A little detective work on your part, will keep you going or, in this case, stopping for countless miles to come.

Modern semi-metallic brake pads are no longer made of asbestos (thanks to the EPA), but of tiny metal shavings and other materials compressed tightly together. These have excellent stopping power and long wear life, but, unfortunately, they often make noise because of the metal fibers contained in them. Cheaper pads are made of softer material and are sometimes quieter than premium quality pads, but do not wear as well. Picture an Oreo cookie. The white filling is your brake rotor, and the cookies are your brake pads. The rotor is made from a metal that has a smooth, slick finish to it, and the pads made up of the tiny metal shavings also have a smooth, slick finish. If you rub, metal on metal, even if it's nearly microscopic metal fibers, you can imagine how you're going to hear some squealing. In such cases, it's not a major problem and not worth worrying about as a driver.

Changes in temperature or changes in the moisture content of the atmosphere also affect friction characteristics that can set off a round of squeaking and squealing. In these cases, intervention by your mechanic isn't necessary. For example, if your car sits for a while or is not driven on a regular basis, rainy or snowy weather can cause a thin film of rust to form on your rotors. When the brake pads press against this rust, they will squeal. Sometimes a few harder-than-usual stops can "de-glaze" the rust and the squealing will stop.

However, when should you consult a professional to look at your brakes?

Drip, drip, drip. First, look down where your car was parked after you moved out of a parking space. Are you leaking brake fluid? You're checking for stains or small puddles of fluid that don't look like oil or coolant. Motor oil will probably have a brown or black look and feel slimy to the touch. Coolant will appear green and more watery. Brake fluid can look like fresh motor oil, but it doesn't have that slimy feel. You'll need to get your hands dirty, but check those puddles. If you suspect you are leaking brake fluid, open the hood and check the reservoir (your owners manual will tell you where to find the reservoir) is it low? If you're leaking brake fluid, consult a mechanic immediately. DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR! Without the proper amount of brake fluid in your brake lines, you will not have full stopping power. If you see a puddle of brake fluid, or your brake pedal feels spongy and low, tow it in to your favorite repair facility.
Squeal, squeal, squeal. If the noise from your brakes is constant, you probably have a problem. Consult a mechanic immediately. He or she will check the brake calipers, brake shoes, master cylinder, etc. The cost of the potential repair will vary according to the problem, make and model of your car.
Scrape, scrape, scrape. One sound you should hope never to hear from you brakes is the horrible scraping of metal on metal. In such cases, you have no brake pad left and are literally stopping your car by grinding your metal brake pad holder against your rotors or drums. After only a few instances of this metal on metal friction, you brakes parts will be absolutely ruined. As soon as you hear such metallic scraping, call a tow truck and get to a mechanic ASAP. The money you spend on the tow will be nothing compared to the money you'd spend on an entire new brake system if you keep using the car and scraping to a stop.
Brakes feel funny. What I mean when I say "feels funny" is when the brake pedal feels spongy or lower than normal, or when you have to step on the brakes harder to get the car to stop. Another "feels funny" is when you step on the brake pedal and the car pulls to one side. If you experience any of this when stopping your car, take it to your trusted mechanic to find out why this is happening, and what needs to be repaired.

If you have any doubts about your brakes, ask your mechanic to go for a ride with you to determine if your brakes are working properly and safely. I feel brakes should be at the top of your list of repairs never to be put off. If the car won't start it is a great inconvenience, but if the car won't stop, it can be deadly.

Your tires are the only parts of the car that physically touch the ground. For that reason, they are the essential factors affecting your vehicle's handling while driving, and stopping while braking.

FIVE UNSEEN DANGERS OF WORN TIRES.

HEAT BUILD-UP Worn tire tread increases heat build-up. As the distance between the tire and the road decreases due to less tread, less airflow is available between the road and the tire. Heat is the great enemy of tire rubber and a major factor in tire failure.
PUNCTURE: Tire tread protects the tire casing from puncture. Worn out tread greatly increases the chances for a tire blowout due to puncture.
HYDROPLANING: Worn tire tread can cause hydroplaning, a problem that can begin at about 5/32" of tread remaining.
BALANCE & ALIGNMENT: Tire balance and suspension alignment problems that cause dangerous tire wear can easily go unnoticed by most drivers.
UNDERINFLATION: Tires with worn tread are more likely to be seriously under inflated. This condition can adversely impact steering, braking and fuel mileage.

DRIVERS DON'T KNOW WHEN THEIR TIRES ARE UNSAFE.

Two out of three drivers do not know how to tell if their tires are bald, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association.

Nearly one in 10 vehicles on our roads today is driving with at least one bald tire (2/32" of tread remaining), according to the U. S. Department of Transportation. That means nearly 23-million vehicles are driving with a bald tire (based on 230-million vehicles registered in the United States).

Most modern tires have tread-wear indicator bars running across the tread. These signal the minimum allowable tread depth of 1/16-inch. When the tread is worn down to these bars, it's time for new tires. You could purchase an inexpensive tread wear gauge at an auto-part or tire stores, or you could use the penny test! You can use a Lincoln-head penny as a tread-wear indicator. Insert the penny into a tire groove with Lincoln's head toward the tire. If you can see the top of Abe's head, the tread is too worn, and you need new tires.

Worn tire tread can lead to tragic tire blowout and hydroplaning accidents. What can you do about tire hydroplaning?

1. SLOW DOWN when the roads are wet. A wet road may be just as slippery as an icy road; all traction is LOST at hydroplaning speeds.
2. Be alert for STANDING WATER or puddles, especially ON CURVES.
3. Keep GOOD TIRES on your car, and keep them PROPERLY INFLATED.
4. Increase FOLLOWING DISTANCES go give yourself more time and distance to stop or control your car.
5. Be alert for SIDE WINDS which can affect vehicle control.
6. Adjust your speed to ROAD CONDITIONS, and remember that hydroplaning CAN occur well BELOW posted speed limits.

Vehicles today, with all their technical enhancements, still need four healthy hunks of round rubber on the wheels to compliment the fuel injected, computer controlled engine under the hood. Whether you hydroplane, have a slow leak or blowout, it is very inconvenient when a tire flattens your day.

Happy Motoring,

Amy